April 14, 2017

School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

Four of Las Cruces’ top chefs will combine their skills to create a delectable evening of celebration. Chefs John Hartley, NMSU-ACES Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management, Tom Drake, Arturo Tovar, and Felipe Alvarez will cook up a feast for the Oscars for Champions Gala to benefit Jardin de los Niños in April at New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Jardin de los Niños is a five-star early childhood educational program certified by the FOCUS Program of New Mexico. According to its website, Jardin provides early childhood education, therapeutic intervention and comprehensive services to homeless and near-homeless children, from the ages of 6 weeks to 10 years and their families. It is one of two programs in the state providing these services to this unique population, and one of five original programs of its kind in the nation. The black-tie, red-carpet event will honor and celebrate individuals in the community who have done an outstanding job of serving the community’s children.

Family and Consumer Sciences

Students in CAST 301V (Introduction to Child Advocacy Studies) participated in several events during April to raise awareness about child abuse. Under the direction of adjunct faculty member Connie Campos, students staffed tables outside of Corbett Center where they distributed information about child abuse and invited students to decorate infant t-shirts and onesies with messages about preventing child abuse. Other students in the CAST 301V class collected toiletries, toys, books, and clothing for children in foster care or who are utilizing the services of La Casa Domestic Violence Shelter or Jardin de los Ninos childcare for homeless families.

Dr. Raquel Garzon, Extension Nutrition and Wellness Specialist, was selected to teach a 2-week course at La Salle University in Bogota, Colombia in June. The course will focus on global food security and will be available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty from all over the world are invited to teach at the summer academy on topics of interest to the students.